 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
louisvm
Member
| Joined: | Sun Feb 10th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 139 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: |   |
|
Posted: Mon Jul 7th, 2008 08:48 pm |
|
I have been studying general structures (as well as lat forces) extensively, using different resources including the aec kaplan guide, flash cards, computer mock exams, mock exams on the ftp site etc. I have completed and reviewed all of my sources except the ballast guide (volume 1: structural topics-fourth edition). I have just finished chapter 9 on wood, and feel as I usually do with all the ballast stuff, a bit perplexed. First of all I think there are some tables missing. He keeps refering to a table 9.2 which doesn't exist. There is a table 9.2a (design values for visually graded dimensional lumber) however the values match up with the ubc table from the kaplan guide (base design values for visually graded dimensional lumber). How ironic, huh...
Furthermore there are equation type problems that I think are unlikely to appear on the exam. For example one problem involves sizing a beam and chacking it for hor. shear. This means finding the section modulus then checking for shear. That's all fine but the one step I found a bit over the top was having to deduct the shear near the supports which equal to the dimension of the beam depth. Now I'm guessing to expect something like that in a dialog-type question but definitely not in an equation.
Finally (and my question to anyone who has been through this or is going through it now), SHOULD I FINISH READING THIS DARN BOOK???? it's not an easy read and continually takes me for a loop as well as wastes time I could be reviewing all the other stuff I have.
|
StrongWilled
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 15th, 2007 |
| Location: | Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 441 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BT | | Describes Me: | living and learning |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: |  |
|
Posted: Mon Jul 14th, 2008 04:46 am |
|
louisvm wrote: I have been studying general structures (as well as lat forces) extensively, using different resources including the aec kaplan guide, flash cards, computer mock exams, mock exams on the ftp site etc. I have completed and reviewed all of my sources except the ballast guide (volume 1: structural topics-fourth edition). I have just finished chapter 9 on wood, and feel as I usually do with all the ballast stuff, a bit perplexed. First of all I think there are some tables missing. He keeps refering to a table 9.2 which doesn't exist. There is a table 9.2a (design values for visually graded dimensional lumber) however the values match up with the ubc table from the kaplan guide (base design values for visually graded dimensional lumber). How ironic, huh...
Furthermore there are equation type problems that I think are unlikely to appear on the exam. For example one problem involves sizing a beam and chacking it for hor. shear. This means finding the section modulus then checking for shear. That's all fine but the one step I found a bit over the top was having to deduct the shear near the supports which equal to the dimension of the beam depth. Now I'm guessing to expect something like that in a dialog-type question but definitely not in an equation.
Finally (and my question to anyone who has been through this or is going through it now), SHOULD I FINISH READING THIS DARN BOOK???? it's not an easy read and continually takes me for a loop as well as wastes time I could be reviewing all the other stuff I have.
I didn't think Ballast was as easy a read as Kaplan, but I am glad I read long enough to get calibrated to how Ballast explains things.
Keep reading Ballast book with a focus on concepts.
This will help when it comes to understanding how NCARB may word its exam questions.
|
louisvm
Member
| Joined: | Sun Feb 10th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 139 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Mon Jul 14th, 2008 10:44 pm |
|
Thanks,
took the test this past saturday. as usual with the multiple choice sections-comfortable with the material and amount of time spent w study/review however OBLIVIOUS walking out of exam.
|
StrongWilled
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 15th, 2007 |
| Location: | Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 441 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BT | | Describes Me: | living and learning |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Tue Jul 15th, 2008 12:27 am |
|
Hey L,
Speaking of oblivious...sorry I didn't respond more timely for your GS exam.
Sounds like you had the right attitude - when your head gets full of information, it's time to stop reading.
I hope you did well on GS.
|
louisvm
Member
| Joined: | Sun Feb 10th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 139 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Tue Jul 29th, 2008 08:19 am |
|
Hey, I passed GS !!!, just got my letter a few days ago, which surprisingly came early. I'm so happy I passed this one on the first go. Thanks for the imput.
|
StrongWilled
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 15th, 2007 |
| Location: | Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 441 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BT | | Describes Me: | living and learning |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Tue Jul 29th, 2008 06:10 pm |
|
Well done!
Congratulations louisvm.
Glad to hear you passed.
|
Punchlist
Member
| Joined: | Tue Oct 17th, 2006 |
| Location: | Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 510 |
| Exams Taken: | GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BT | | Describes Me: | Time for another go at BP |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Wed Jul 30th, 2008 03:08 pm |
|
Nicely done, Louis!!! This exam is no small feat, so be proud of yourself for knocking it outta the park. 
|
louisvm
Member
| Joined: | Sun Feb 10th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 139 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Mon Aug 18th, 2008 08:57 pm |
|
Thanks for the kind words and encouragement....I haven't checked my email lately since I needed a break from everything especially after studying so diligently for GS. Now I will be taking Lateral Forces in within the next two weeks. Any words of advise are highly appreciated....
|
Current time is 02:18 pm | |
|
|
|
|
